Red Széll

And I want to hear my author thinking on the page.

You know, he needs to be curious.

He needs to be sceptical.

It's got to be the kind of mind you want to follow.

I think if you're asking questions, if the author is asking questions during the narrative, he is reflecting the reader's own questions.

And a healthy dollop of scepticism is really good from that point of view because you are journeying with the author.

As you say, you don't want some omniscient god just telling you how it is.

You know, this is a book, not graven tablets.

Exactly.

Respect complexity.

You know, if it's easy answers, then why the hell are you writing the book?

You've got to acknowledge uncertainty and counter arguments.

And I think you build confidence and that kind of confidence comes from honesty.

rather than oversimplification.

That's a new one on me.

I will look forward to reading that.

That sounds fascinating.

And actually, I've got one back at you where I would say the author fulfills exactly what you've just said.

It's a biography of Xi Jinping, the premier of China.

And it's by a veteran foreign correspondent called Michael Sheridan, who's got over two decades experience of reporting on Chinese affairs.